Author Topic: SES’s AMC-9 satellite drifting after anomaly  (Read 24862 times)

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: SES’s AMC-9 satellite drifting after anomaly
« Reply #40 on: 09/28/2017 01:42 am »
The reason for the very bright flash from AMC 9 on Kevin Fetter's video, at this time, has to do with what happens visually with Geosats around the spring and fall equinox where GeoSats give off very bright flashes which some can easily be seen with the naked eye.

I think the key difference here is Geo satellites with positive attitude control during equinox season solar panels will flare as the satellite approaches for lack a better word, the back side of the earth  moving between the satellite and the sun.
That said, if AMC 9 is spinning, you would expect a repeating pattern with a period. He did not report that. Which means that they have either regained attitude control (which they have not reported) or it is tumbling (rotating around several axis's) and randomly pointing the panels in different directions, including that one lucky flare orientation.

I vote tumbling.
« Last Edit: 09/28/2017 01:44 am by kevin-rf »
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Offline Thomas Dorman

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Re: SES’s AMC-9 satellite drifting after anomaly
« Reply #41 on: 09/28/2017 04:03 pm »
 kevin-rf
We vote tumbling too! Then for SES irregular multi-axises rotation or IMAR for short, ::) seems to be a better fit for their damage control model with shareholder and investors! Next time we get a clear night will see if we can get some video of the flashes to see how irregular they are!
Regards
Thomas

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